Cinema Civilian

*Any and all images in this review are for the benefit of the critique and analysis, and are thus protected under the Fair Use Policy of the United States Copyright Law. **This review will contain spoilers for Get Out I usually write my reviews within about an hour of seeing a movie. This way I can ensure that my reactions are kept fresh and my opinions and reactions are my own. This is how I have reviewed the last several films on this blog, and the system works and the articles are strong. I found myself needing to take a few extra days with this review. I saw the film on Saturday, March 25, 2017, and am just now able to actually review the film. This is the level to which this film plays with your mind. If you had told me a year ago that a woman holding a teacup would be one of the most psychologically terrifying characters I will see, I would have laughed you out of the room. Now, I'd be saying "Go on", and wanting to hear you out. Get Out  takes ...

I love Beauty and the Beast . I have seen the animated film countless times, and have even performed in two productions of the stage musical. As a result, I know the story rather well... That is... Until I saw this version... Disney has hit it out of the park once again, proving the effectiveness of these live action remakes of the classics. Emma Watson clearly embodies the character of belle, but also has her unique version, having more in-depth character that justifies how she grows throughout the film.  This is a major plus for this film. We get to learn the backstories of these beloved characters, even more than the original and the musical give us. We learn how the beast became spoiled, selfish, and unkind. We learn the fate of Belle's mother (seriously, why does Disney seem to hate protagonist's mothers), and an origin for Gaston and his ego. In addition to the enhanced development of character, Disney improved the story by filling in several plot ...

I remember seeing the original Pete's Dragon as a child, and I've got to say it's one of the weaker live-action Disney movies. The characters were dull, the plot rather boring, and the music irritating. I am glad to say these issues are not present in the 2016 remake. This version, while still working within the story of a boy trying to find a place to call home, really develops the relationship between Elliot and Pete. The film opens with an explanation of why Pete is in the woods, as well as establishes the reason the dragon is ultimately named Elliot. This immensely improves the viewer's connection with the dragon, and really makes one feel for the moments of conflict for our main characters. The hillbillies of the old film, who open the movie with a song about killing Pete are replaced, in essence and purpose to the plot, by a logging company in the woods where Pete and Elliot reside. These characters actually care about the world they are in, and have ...

*This review will contain spoilers for Kong: Skull Island I have never really understood why people like King Kong. Maybe this is because until now the only film I have seen with him was the 2005 version with Jack Black. People find giant gorilla, catch it, bring it to a big city where it gets loose, climbs a skyscraper, and eventually gets shot down. While cool to see, it really doesn't do much more than that. This film has changed my mind. While the film hits all the classic notes of a King Kong film, such as the man seeking validation, the strong military seeing the gorilla as a threat, and a woman falling to their would-be doom if Kong didn't save her, it does away with all the cliche of these moments. Set during the Vietnam War, a government organization that focuses on hunting monsters is in danger of being shut down. If they come back without information, they will be shut down. The team will piggy-back on a LANSAT geological survey, and be escorted by a m...

*This post will contain spoilers for Logan. **This post will contain content that may be sensitive for some readers. Please read at your own discretion. Seventeen years ago, Hugh Jackman and Sir Patrick Stewart suited up in X-Men, the first of a trilogy of films. These films spawned sequels, prequels, and even a universal reboot. This week, however, the journey officially came to a close... Logan tells the story of Old Man Logan, who is suffering from toxins in his body due to the Atomantium in his body, and follows his journey from Mexico to North Dakota trying to evade a scientist who has cloned and created mutant weapons. The story starts with Logan serving as a limo driver, and it shows the generic situations of driving a limo: the Prom, important personnel, and a Bachelorette party. After defeating a group of thugs who tried to steal his tires, Logan returns home, where we find he is not alone. We meet Caliban, a mutant with the ability to track other mutants, but ...

Lego and Warner Brothers have struck gold again. This film focuses on the classic DC super hero Batman. However, rather than bore us with yet another origin film, Lego has created another moral film, this time focusing on the necessity of having other people in your life, similar to the theme of Big Hero 6, but without the added motive of revenge. The film begins with Batman narrating the opening logos of the film, claiming that he is the one who mad DC great. This was only the beginning of the pokes that were made throughout the film. Other jabs were made at the Adam West era of Batman, the Tim Burton era, the Christopher Nolan trilogy, Suicide Squad, as well as Batman V Superman. Furthermore, it mocked Marvel, seeing as the password to the Batcave is that "Iron Man sucks", a testament that is true in regards to the third solo film. There is even jabs at Green Lantern, whose emails from Superman are often delayed for years. However beneath all of these jokes ...

Coin Heist is the story of four students banding together to save their school. After his father is arrested for embezzlement of the school's endowment, Jason looks to an ex-girlfriend, an experienced hacker, and a football-playing engineer to help save the school.  Their plan is this: break into the United States Mint, cast 2000 state quarters with an error on them, and then sell them to make the money that has vanished back, thus returning the extra-curricular activities and scholarships to the school. The film reminds me of a fusion of The Breakfast Club and Catch That Kid. The group dynamic (the jock, prep, slacker, and brainiac) combined with their deception of their teacher is very similar to that of The Breakfast Club. The concept of younger persons stealing to help save something they care about is a similar image to that of Catch That Kid. The film's statements on the value of a coin is quite interesting. They talk about how the system works because w...

Witnessing the first eight episodes of the Netflix original series 3%  is an interesting analysis into the morals of humanity. In this series, people in a distopian inland are given one chance, at the age of 20, to pass a test and make it to the utopian "Offshore". There is only one problem. Only 3% of applicants will pass the challenge. The challenges include interviews, spacial definition, rationing supplies, and other major challenges that are designed to determine who is the best, and is thus worthy of moving to the Offshore. In each stage, we find out more and more about the characters, as well as reflect on their choices and what we would do in this scenario. This process is fought by a resistance known only as "The Cause." Unfortuantely, this rebellion is very underdeveloped, making the counter to tradition quite weak in this process. My expectation is that The Cause will receive more explanation and development in the rumored second season, but f...